finally got a job but no income to live on for 6 weeks

cmjd

Hello,

Any help would be great.

My job contract come to an end on December 31st so have been surviving on that income throughout January whilst looking for a job. I signed on to jobseekers but have yet to receive a payment. I also signed up for housing benefit but again have received no communication about that. I have just gotten a new job however this now means that between now and the end of February I will have absolutely no money coming in as JSA is only given until you get a job.

I have no savings to speak of and am unfortunately not able to get any financial support such as loans or overdraft facility.

Is there anything that can be done to ease the situation as I still have the same outgoings and rent to pay but with no money to pay it.

Thanks

StormyWeather_2

When did you put start the claim for JSA and housing benefit?

cmjd

The claim was started on the 7th of January. They haven't been very useful when contacted.

StormyWeather_2

You should still get something for the few weeks that you've been signing. I don't think you'll be eligible for the run on payments as you haven't been claiming long enough.

Has your claim been accepted for JSA?
HB can take a few weeks.

You need to let them know that you're starting work.

Could you ask your new employer to pay you weekly for the first month?

cmjd

That is an option which I could explore. They are a day nursery though and only get paid by parents at the end of the month so feel that they wouldn't be able to pay me throughout the month but could ask

As far as I know it has been accepted. They Just said that I am waiting on the letter to confirm.

sniggings

you can ask for an intrim payment from JSA whilst your claim is being processed.

also ask at your council as a lot of government help has now stopped and been taken over by local councils.

They could help with bus passes and food etc

missapril75

It's a bit "after the horse has bolted" but this shows how important it is to A) claim benefits without delay (even if it's "only" a week's delay that could be £70 plus a week's rent) and 2) keep some money back from earned income.

Wages are generally more than benefits so it makes sense to be protective of money when it's the last one.

This is not a criticism of the OP, more a general observation.
I have come across many who get their normal salary at the end of the month when employment ends and then they've spent it within the next two weeks. Had they still been working, their next income wouldn't have been until the end of the month.

Fine if a benefits claim is sorted out in time, but even then a problem is created when the next job comes along and it's a month before first salary and you've only got two weeks JSA to last.

It's astonishing what little care of money is taken by some people for whom it's even more important.

tinkledom

cmjd wrote: »

Hello,

Any help would be great.

My job contract come to an end on December 31st so have been surviving on that income throughout January whilst looking for a job. I signed on to jobseekers but have yet to receive a payment. I also signed up for housing benefit but again have received no communication about that. I have just gotten a new job however this now means that between now and the end of February I will have absolutely no money coming in as JSA is only given until you get a job.

I have no savings to speak of and am unfortunately not able to get any financial support such as loans or overdraft facility.

Is there anything that can be done to ease the situation as I still have the same outgoings and rent to pay but with no money to pay it.

Thanks

By the time that any payments for the JSA & HB claims actually come in, you will probably have received your first wage at the end of February!!

mattcanary

Maybe you could apply for a credit-card?
Not sure how long it would take to process and for you to get the card in your hands but....
It would allow you to spend money that you need in order to live until you get your first monthly wages from your new employers.

You would get several weeks before you needed to pay it off.

Obviously, you would have to be disciplined about what you buy on this credit-card.

I'm a bad credit-risk. I was made bankrupt in 2010 but was able to get a credit-card through Vanquis shortly after this. It has a very high interest rate but if you only use it to pay for your essentials (ie: food, maybe utility bills if you are under pressure to pay quickly) then it can be a good short-term solution.

You can then soon pay it off after you have received your first months pay.

dktreesea

Have you got anything you could sell, preferably on something like gumtree so you get the money straight away? or maybe pawn if you would like to get the item back in the future?

Find out where your nearest foodbank is http://www.trusselltrust.org/foodbank-projects and what you need to do, i.e. how to get referred to get a food parcel. it's only for 3 days but you might be able to eke it out for longer.

Could you maybe take some stuff to sell at your local carboot sale? It doesn't follow that you need a car to sell at a carboot. Plenty of people go to our one bringing their stuff to sell in suitcases and just lie it out on a cloth on the ground.

Have you approached your local council to see if you can get a crisi loan to see you through?

Tou use a foodbank you usually need to be referred. I realise this is not likely to be in your area, but it will at least give you an idea of how it all works andf what to look for in your own area:

http://edinburghnw.foodbank.org.uk/how-it-works

This is going to sound a bit crazy, but have you thought of volunteering somewhere? I know it will seem counterintuitive, but at least you could be in a warm place with something to do during the day, where you could have a cup of coffee or tea.

Check out the places in your community that provide a free meal. Again, this may not be in your area, but gives some idea of what to look for and what could be available where you live:

http://www.edspace.org.uk/default.asp?page=22&sid=229

I know these organisations target the homeless usually, but it doesn't follow that you can't get a meal too if you need one.

Can you walk to your new job? If not, - and if you can afford to now - make sure you get a travel card for the next few weeks, for long enough to tide you over until you get paid.

This site is good. Usually up to date and applies to the whole country. http://www.thepavement.org.uk/services.php?facility=&service=13&city=8